Veteran Bollywood playback singer Alka Yagnik has sung some of the biggest hit songs in Bollywood. She lent her voice to many famous actresses. Sadly, she has been diagnosed with a rare sensorineural nerve disorder. In a social media post, she shared that a few weeks ago, she suddenly couldn't hear anything after stepping off a flight. A medical checkup revealed she had a rare sensorineural hearing loss caused by a viral attack. She admitted that this diagnosis caught her completely off guard. Despite this setback, she found the strength to face the illness with courage. Alka advised her fans and younger colleagues to be cautious about exposure to very loud music and headphones. She reminded us that we often take our ability to hear for granted until it's gone. Now, let's take a closer look at what a sensorineural nerve disorder is. Bollywood Playback Singer Alka Yagnik Diagnosed With Rare Sensory Neural Nerve Hearing Loss, Shares Heartfelt Post Seeking Fans' Love and Support.

What Is Rare Sensorineural Hearing Loss?

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) happens when there is damage to the inner ear or the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. It can affect one or both ears. This type of hearing loss is responsible for more than 90% of hearing problems in adults. SNHL is often caused by exposure to loud noises, genetic factors, or ageing. Inside your inner ear, there is a spiral-shaped organ called the cochlea, which contains tiny hairs called stereocilia. These hairs convert sound vibrations into signals that your auditory nerve sends to your brain. Sounds louder than 85 decibels can damage these hairs, but you might not notice hearing loss until 30–50 percent of them are damaged. Eighty-five decibels are about the same as the noise from heavy traffic. Sensorineural hearing loss can vary from mild to complete, depending on the extent of the damage. Mild hearing loss means you cannot hear sounds between 26 and 40 decibels. Moderate hearing loss means you cannot hear sounds between 41 and 55 decibels. Severe hearing loss means you cannot hear sounds above 71 decibels. Although sensorineural hearing loss is not life-threatening, it can make communication difficult if not treated properly. What Is Guillain-Barre Syndrome? From Symptoms to Causes and Treatment, Here's Everything About Rare Neurological Disorder That Has Triggered National Emergency in Peru.

Symptoms of Rare Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Common symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss are trouble hearing someone talk when there is background noise, difficulty understanding conversations on the phone, and some sounds that seem like they are too loud or high-pitched. People with the disorder may also have difficulty understanding certain words or parts of speech, figuring out where sounds are coming from, and often feeling like others are mumbling when they speak.

Rare Sensorineural Hearing Loss Treatment

Sensorineural hearing loss is usually not treatable with medicine or surgery. The most common solutions are hearing aids and cochlear implants. Gene therapy for hearing loss is a growing area of research, but it is not yet used to treat SNHL.

Precautions for Rare Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Follow the 60/60 rule when using headphones with an mp3 player. Listen for no more than 60 minutes at no more than 60 percent of the maximum volume. Consider buying noise-cancelling headphones, as these allow you to listen at lower volumes. Protect your ears at concerts, where the volume can range from 100 to 120 decibels. You could damage your hearing in just 15 minutes at this level. Use foam earplugs or musician's plugs to reduce the volume while keeping the music quality. At work, if you are in a noisy profession, discuss hearing protection with your employer. Always use ear protection when exposed to high-decibel noises for a long time. Britney Spears Opens Up About ‘Nerve Damage’ and Health Battles, Cites Childhood Trauma As Root Cause.

Let's not take our hearing for granted. It's important to take precautions and protect our ears to prevent sensorineural hearing loss and other hearing disorders.

(This article is written for an informative purpose and should not be substituted for medical advice. Kindly consult your doctor before trying any tips.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 18, 2024 10:43 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).